Self-propelling vehicle



(No Model.)

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R. 1-1. PLASS. SELFI PROPELLING VEHICLE.

No. 571,392 Patented Nov. 17, 1896.

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R. H. PLASS.

SELF PROPELLING VEHICLE.'

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN Il. PLASS, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK.

SELF-PROPELLING VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 571,392, dated November 17,1896.

Application filed April 20, 1895. Serial No. 546,559. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may conceive.-

Beit known that I, REUBEN H. lnass, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self -Propelling Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of vehicles which are driven by a motor or engine, wherein the motor or engine and the material for operating the same are carried by the vehicle.

rlhe object of the invention is to provide a light, simple, easily-controlled, and noiseless vehicle provided with such means for propelling and steering that it may be run at varying speeds, stopped and started, and guided by an unskilled person with safety and ease.

Further, the object is to provide a vehicle of the kind referred to so constructed that the necessary supply of material for operating the propelling device for a long distance may be carried without inconvenience to the passengers.

Further, the object of the invention is to provide a vehicle having a suitable source of power, such as a gasolene-engine, and with such .means for connecting the motor with the driving-wheels that the motor may be run at a uniform speed and the speed of running the vehicle may be varied by a simple means easily operated by an unskilled person.

Further, the object of the invention is to produce a vehicle driven by a motor or engine carried by the same, wherein vthe power for propelling is transmitted from the motor or engine to the driving-wheels with the intervention of a small number of parts, thus avoiding loss of power by friction or slipping, and in which the controlling of the direction of movement and of the speed of the movement is regulated by means of a lever or the like connected with the driving mechanism and placed in a suitable position to be reached by a passenger.

The invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as herein set forth and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the aecompanying drawings, in which- Figure l. is a side view of the vehicle, the side of the body being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view, the seats being removed. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the bearings for the axles of the driving-wheels. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view particularly showing the arrangement of a gasolene, naphtha, or other similar engine and the electrical means for igniting the hydrocarbon in the engine and providing lights for the lamps of the vehicle; and Fig. i is a sectional view showing the steering device anda portion of the means for start-ing, stopping, and varying the speed and direction of movement of the vehicle.

In the drawings, A represents the main body of the vehicle, which in the present embodiment of the invention is shown as twoseated and mounted on four wheels. It will be clear from an understanding of the invention that a vehicle with any number of wheels may be employed, and that the invention is particularly adapted by slight modifications for application to bicycles and tricycles as commonly constructed.

In the present illustration the vehicle is shown as mounted on two sets of wheels A2 and A3. The front set A2 is connected to the body of the vehicle by an axle a and the kingbolt a2, and the wheels of the back set are connected to an axle a3, mounted in suitable bearings iixed to the rear of the body A. The bearin gs of the axle as are preferably provided with a series of antifriction -rollers at, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to avoid friction on the axles.

The seats A1 of the vehicle are preferably, as shown, composed of two hinged or pivoted sections a5 d6, the section co5 being pivoted at a point a7 to the body of the vehicle and the two sections a5 a6 being pivotally connected at a point as. This arrangement permits of the seats being folded com pactly together and of being raised to permit free access to the space beneath the seats, where the principal vworking and movable parts of the propelling and controlling device are arranged.

Arranged under the front seat is an engine or motor B, by which a rotary movement is given the main driving-shaft C. The en gine shown is a gas-engine, and the gas used to IOO supply it is generated from naphtha, gasolene, or other suitable hydrocarbon contained in a tank D, located beneath the rear seat. The hydrocarbon used is conducted from the tank D to the engine B by a pipe a, which leads to a reservoir h, connected by a pipe b2 with a pump b3, by which the hydrocarbon is forced, together with a suflicient quantity of air, into the engine at proper times.

The explosion of the hydrocarbon in the en gine is eifeeted by sparks caused by making and breaking an electric circuit, the current of which is supplied by a battery E, arranged adjacent to the engine and having wires c extending from the battery to the cylinder of the engine.

A dynamo F is mounted near the engine and receives motion from the band-wheel j", which is connected by a belt f2 with a bandwheel f3 on the shaft of the engine. The conductors from the dynamo are connected te ineandescent lamps G, arranged on each side ot' the front seat of the vehicle, and they are also connected by cond uctorsfl with the explosion-chamber of the engine. By this arrangement it will be seen that in case of the weakening or disconnection of the battery E the current generated bythe dynamo may be utilized to provide the necessary sparks for i gniting the hydrocarbon in the engine.

Beneath the engine B is a water-tank lI,con taining a supply of water, which is caused te circulate around the cylinder of the engine for the purpose of keeping it cool. Motion is transmitted from the main driving-shaft C to the rear axle a3 of the vehicle through the friction-plate C2, fixed to the rear of the shaft C, and a friction-roller Cl, mounted on the rear axle. This friction-roller is connected to the rear axle by a spline or feather or in any other suitable way which will permit of its sliding longitudinally on the shaft and which at the same time will cause the frietion-roller and the shaft to rotate together.

The rear face of the friction-plate C2 is preferably concave and is coated with some material, such as rubber, which will cause the disk and roller to turn together when brought into contact. The rear face of the frictionplate C2 being concave it will be seen that by placing the friction-roller opposite the center of the plate the latter is capable of rotating without giving motion to the roller'. The direction of rotation of the friction-roller, and consequently of the rear axle by which the vehicle is driven, is regulated by the posit-ion in which the roller is placed relative to the friction-disk. By moving the friction-roller to come into contact with the disk at one side of its axis the vehicle will be caused to move in one direction, while by movingthe frictionroller to the other side the movement will be reversed. It will also be seen that the greater the distance the friction-roller is moved from the center of the disk the greater will be the speed of revolution of the axle.

In order to place the adjustment of the friction-roller C3 within the ready control of the occupants of the vehicle, I provide in the front of the vehicle an upright shaft I, provided with guide projections t'. Around the shaft I pass two chains or belts t2 t, which are connected, respectively, at the upper and lower ends of bars t1, which are attached to the friction-roller C. The shaft I is provided with a handle 5, by which the shaft may be rotated, so that by turning the shaft the position of the friction-roller relativo to the frictioirplate maybe regulated.

The vehicle is steered by means of the gears K, K2, and K3, which are arranged beneath the floor oi' the vehicle. The gear l is rigidly attached to the king-bolt a2. The gear K3 is attached at the lower end of the shaft K, provided with a handle l, within easy reach of the occupant of the front seat of the vehicle. rlhe gear K2 is interposed between and is in contact with the gears Ii and lf3. By the arrangement described the turning of the handle K5 in either direction will result in a corresponding movement ef the ki n g-bolt and consequently of the front axle, to which the king-bolt is rigidly attached, and there will be sufficient friction between the three gears to prevent displaeementof the axle by the wheels coming into contact with obstruction or unevenness in road.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by 'Letters Patent7 is l. A self-propelling vehicle comprising an axle having a longitudinally-movable roller connected therewith in a manner to rotate with it, an engine arranged on approximately the saine plane as the axle, the engine being provided with a shaft having its end arranged adjacent to the axle, and a friction-plate on the shaft designed to be engaged by the roller, substantially as described.

2. In a self-propelling vehicle, the combination with the king-bolt having a gear-wheel attached thereto of a standard provided with a handle at its upper end and with a gearwheel at its lower end, and a gear-wheel interposed between and meshing with those on the king-bolt and standard, substantially as described. Y

In testimony whereof I al'iix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN Il. 'PLASS Vitnesses:

Taos. S. Iiorxins, F. H. SMITH.

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